PLOUGH MONDAY - On the first Monday after the 6th January 'Plough Monday' was once celebrated. It came just before the New Year's ploughing was begun. The young labourers would drag a decorated plough from house to house asking for money and other gifts. If they did not get a favourable response then they would plough up the lawn or ground in front of the house. If the visit had been to an unsociable farmer then the ploughboys would lift field gates off their hinges.

WASSAILING - The purpose of wassailing was to wish health for the coming year to one another and to animals and crops. The origins of wassailing are thought to pre-date Christianity. The expression ‘wassail' is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘waes hal' meaning ‘be healthy'. This was eventually contracted into ‘wassail' and alongside the tradition of welcoming guests with a horn or bowl of ale evolved into wassailing. The most common practice was the wassailing of orchards. As dusk fell, cider would be poured into the roots of the trees accompanied by singing. Pieces of toast were pressed into the roots and horns were noisily blown to scare off evil spirits. All the while the ale-filled wassail bowl, decorated with greenery and ribbons would be circulated amongst those gathered. These events were recorded by John Aubrey: on Twelfth Eve men “go with their wassel-bowl into the orchard and go about the trees to bless them, and put a piece of toast upon the roots, in order to feed it.”

MUMMING - Mumming plays traditionally involve acting out the story of St George slaying the dragon with six or eight players dressed in brightly coloured costumes. The action often includes swordplay and the victory of good over evil. Although over the centuries some mumming plays have been written down they were traditionally passed down by word of mouth. This custom has been revived to some extent in Wiltshire with a mummers group known as 'The Ragged Heroes' performing at Lacock in recent years.